Orthopedic – Basivertebral Nerve Model

Clearly showing vertebral pain management

The Challenge

This client needed to create a patient education model to show how the Intracept procedure accesses and ablates the basivertebral nerve of a lumbar vertebra (L3, L4 or L5) for lasting pain relief. The team came to Pulse with clear objectives:

To show the patient what their vertebra looks like
To show what the basivertebral nerve looks like inside the vertebra
To show the channel that will be created in the vertebra to reach the nerve root

Our client, Relievant Medsystems Inc., had worked with another group to create a realistic basivertebral nerve model. However, they still wanted a more realistic-looking nerve. Our team at Pulse was able to make the nerves thinner, more delicate, AND reduce the unit cost.

Model Development

Similar to how we start many projects, we started with the development of CAD data for the nerve and vertebra. We had to make many revisions. It was quite difficult to showcase the basivertebral nerve entering the vertebra and then extending to the superior and inferior vertebral endplates exactly as the client required. Relievant’s R&D engineer worked closely with our Pulse team to inspect samples and suggest revisions.

The last shipments of models all looked fantastic! We are getting great reviews from customers and are looking forward to getting another batch ordered soon.

Mr. Marketing Program Manager

The last shipments of models all looked fantastic! We are getting great reviews from customers and are looking forward to getting another batch ordered soon.

Mr. Marketing Program Manager

Model Solution

The final model is a perfectly clear vertebrae showing a delicate and accurate basivertebral nerve. An access cavity in the pedicle is included to easily show patients how the optimal nerve ablation target is reached.

Relievant Medsystems is using its custom vertebra model to educate patients by addressing the following commonly asked questions:

Is this procedure right for me?
What is the durability of the treatment?
How invasive is the treatment?
How will this relieve my pain?

Pulse MDM made a model that helps make the procedure graspable to potential patients prompting meaningful discussion between physician and patient pre-procedure.

Procedure Overview

The Intracept Procedure is specifically designed to ablate the basivertebral nerve for the relief of chronic vertebrogenic low back pain. Vertebrogenic pain is a distinct type of chronic low back pain caused by damage to vertebral endplates – the interface between the disc and the vertebral body. Disc degeneration, and the wear and tear that occurs with everyday living, produce stresses on the endplates that damage them, leading to inflammation and vertebrogenic pain. To confirm that a patient has vertebrogenic pain, physicians use an MRI to look for specific changes that occur with endplate inflammation, which are called Modic changes. The basivertebral nerve enters through an opening in the back of the vertebral body and branches near the center of the vertebral body, sending nerves to innervate the superior and inferior endplates. These nerve endings transmit pain signals from the endplate to the brain. 

What's Your Medical Demonstration Challenge?

Your device has a story to tell, and Pulse MDM brings it to life.
Our clinically relevant models deliver the exact tactile experience that makes your medical device unforgettable.

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